Tikhanovskaya declares readiness to act as national leader for organizing new presidential election in Belarus
MINSK. Aug 17 (Interfax) - Former Belarusian presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has expressed the readiness to act as the national leader in the period of organization of a fair election in Belarus.
"I am ready to assume the responsibility and to act as the national leader during this period so that the country calms down and gets into the normal rhythm, and so that we release all political prisoners and rapidly prepare a legislative foundation and conditions for organizing a new presidential election. A real, fair, and transparent election to be unconditionally accepted by the international community," Tikhanovskaya said in her video address on Monday.
Tikhanovskaya said she had never had any illusions about her political career. "I did not want to be a politician but life had other plans and I found myself on the frontline of the fight against iniquity and injustice. The fate and you who believed in me gave me the strength," she said.
"All of us want the endless circle, which emerged 26 years ago, to end," Tikhanovskaya said.
The recent months "made it absolutely obvious to the entire world" that Belarusians "are capable of self-organizing, making the right decisions, and standing up for themselves and their nearest," Tikhanovskaya said. "Most importantly, we realized that ourselves. This is the awareness we have been lacking for many years," she said.
"Today, Belarusians are demonstrating miracles of heroism, solidarity, and decency. [...] Time after time, we are showing to the world our commitment to the idea of non-violent resistance and thus proving that the truth is not on the side of force and weapons, but instead the truth is on the side of the strength of mind, honesty, decency, and courage," Tikhanovskaya said.
She said she hoped that the message would be heard, and "we will win supporters all over the world who will help us through this difficult period."
The Belarusian presidential election took place on August 9. According to the official results, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, who had been in office since 1994, won a landslide victory. Protests triggered by the published election results have been ongoing. About 7,000 people have been detained by now. Peaceful protests started at Belarusian industrial enterprises on August 13.
The Belarusian Interior Ministry said on August 14 that over 2,000 people detained during protests had been released from custody.
The Belarusian Central Elections Commission met on August 14 to sum up results of the presidential election. According to the confirmed results, Lukashenko gained 80.1% of the vote and Tikhanovskaya got 10.12%.
It became known on August 11 that Tikhanovskaya left Belarus. She is currently staying in Lithuania.
An organized pro-presidential rally took place on Independence Square in Minsk on Sunday afternoon. Officially, the turnout exceeded 65,000. The president addressed the audience.
Later that day, the opposition held a protest action near the Minsk Hero City Memorial. According to various estimates, the turnout reached several hundreds of thousands. The protesters marched along central avenues towards the House of Government on Independence Square in the evening.
Observers said it was the most massive protest in the history of modern Belarus.
